Peugeot 406 (2000)

33,751 real MOT outcomes analysed • 70.2% first-time pass rate

2000 Peugeot 406

CarHunch analysed 33,751 real MOT records for the 2000 Peugeot 406. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2000 Peugeot 406 falls well short of the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of just 70.2% against the national 80%, and one in five of these cars have had a dangerous defect recorded—a genuine concern for buyers. Diesel models fare slightly worse at 68.8% pass rate versus petrol at 72%, suggesting the petrol option may be marginally more dependable.

These 406s are now over two decades old and averaging 123,000 miles, which is reasonable for the age, yet they're racking up an average of 3.22 failures per test and 11.4 advisories, pointing to widespread wear on suspension, brakes, and exhaust systems. If you're considering one, budget for repair work before purchase and insist on a pre-buy inspection focusing on the cooling system and electricals, where this generation is known to develop expensive problems.

Below average reliability 9.8% below UK average
70.2%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
130,917
typical mileage
105,700–160,860 middle half
21%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
3.22
avg MOT failures per car
over 10 tests on record

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 3.2 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

72%
Petrol
14,423 vehicles
68.8%
Diesel
19,296 vehicles

What to check before buying a 2000 Peugeot 406

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 21% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Peugeot 406

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (57%) 19,296 68.8% 3.53
Petrol (43%) 14,423 72% 2.81
LPG (0%) 27 70.9% 2.63
Electric (0%) 4 85.4% 0.75
Other (0%) 1 66.7% 4

Mileage Distribution

Most 2000 Peugeot 406 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

105,700
low mileage
130,917
typical
160,860
high mileage

Half of all 2000 Peugeot 406 vehicles fall between 105,700 and 160,860 miles.

2000 Peugeot 406 — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 523 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 (6% of peak).

9,024 523 2014 2023

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2023.

MOT History Averages

10
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
3.22
Avg failures per vehicle
11.4
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2000 Peugeot 406

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 49.2%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 44.7%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 44.1%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 43.5%
    Oil leak
  • 41.9%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 41.1%
    Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
  • 23.4%
    Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
  • 22.2%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2000. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Peugeot 406?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Peugeot 406:

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2001 2002 2003 2004